Talk Softly and Carry a Big Stick: Understanding Anti-Semitism

By Dr. Elior Kinarthy

What is anti-semitism? According to the definitions in dictionaries it is hostility and discrimination against the religion, people and ethnic group that defines themselves as Jews.

A minority that is very successful, often becomes a target but jealousy alone is not a cause of anti-semitism, but a combination of personality and identity issues. What causes anti-semitism and is there a cure? According to psychology, anti-semitism is created by an identity problem. In other words, if you are raised without a strong sense of self-identity and have not integrated all the parts of your personality, you are vulnerable to take on a set of beliefs from another group or cause. This is why adolescents are vulnerable to being radicalized as they are naturally struggling to form their own identity. This is a sign of weakness and this vulnerability can be exploited.

People that cannot create an identity for themselves tend to follow powerful leaders which leads to most dictatorships around the world. Dictatorships tend to support vicious behaviours because they use fear to their advantage. They also tend to create an identity for you so that you now belong to a group. A lack of identity combined with mental health disturbances, disintegration, bad home environment, and physical abuse often leads to an aggressive personality. It becomes part of a character disorder of which there are over 100 different types. The core of a character disorder is not able to be rehabilitated.

You can however treat aggressive symptoms, and control them through behavioural techniques. The behavioural reward and punishment programs work for a few years, until certain triggers in the environment explode those feelings of hate and then they manifest themselves. If you are raised with anti-semitism you cannot be rehabilitated as once a child is age 5- they are set for life. In order to re-educate a culture or group you have to “wander the desert for 40 years” to wait for the next generations to get rid of anti-semitism. Education can potentially help but it is rarely used effectively to overcome cultural hatred and bias.

As a psychologist, I believe that the easiest way to control bad behaviours is the fear of punishments and consequences. Making sure people obey laws and that the police keep order is a powerful tool to combat violence. You can use strength and law and order to control the behaviour of psychopaths. My advice is to aim towards respect and use strength, law and order to gain control. Like Teddy Roosevelt famously said “Talk softly and carry a big stick”.